Abroad in Japan Book Summary - Abroad in Japan Book explained in key points

Listen to the Intro

00:00

Abroad in Japan summary

Name: Abroad in Japan
Rating: 4.1 (43 reviews)
Author: Chris Broad

Chris Broad

Ten years in the Land of the Rising Sun

4.1 (43 ratings)

18 mins

Brief summary

Abroad in Japan chronicles Chris Broad's immersive adventures and observations as a British ex-pat in Japan. With humor and insight, he delves into cultural differences, offering a fresh perspective on Japanese life and traditions.

Topics

Lifestyle & Pop Culture Anthropology Culture Autobiographies Memoirs

Table of Contents

Abroad in Japan
Summary of 6 key ideas

Audio & text in the Blinkist app

Key idea 1 of 6

What’s in it for me? Experience the humor and challenges of life in Japan.

In a chandelier-lit room at the Japanese Embassy, one anxious applicant sat beside a grammar test he’d probably flunked, trying not to sweat through his suit. Chris Broad wanted a teaching job in Japan. All that stood in his way were two interviewers: a polite Japanese man and a sterner British one. Neither looked thrilled to be there.

He tried to come across as upbeat, eager, and genki – a word he’d learned meant lively or energetic, though no one had ever used it to describe him. He smiled too hard. He answered “no” when asked how his Japanese was, then panicked and backtracked. He said he’d live “anywhere in the countryside,” even “in a cave in Hokkaido.” Worse, when asked why he’d initially picked Kobe as a preferred location, his honest answer was “the beef.”

Then came the final trap: explain wabi-sabi, a famous Japanese concept he barely understood. He froze, stumbled, and mumbled something vague and emotional. Somehow, they liked it.

Three months later, to his complete shock, he got in. He’d been accepted onto Japan’s biggest teaching exchange, despite saying almost nothing that made sense. A move of nearly 10,000 kilometers was now real – he was heading off to live in a country he barely knew, doing a job he wasn’t sure he could do, with only a strong sense of curiosity and a questionable smile to carry him through.

In this Blink, you’ll find out how one man’s unexpected journey through rural Japan turns into a series of funny, culture-shocking encounters. From awkward moments in the classroom to viral internet fame, discover what it’s really like to live, teach, and adapt in a foreign country.

A hot, sticky, and nerve-wracking welcome to rural Japan

Landing a teaching job in Japan through the JET Program felt like winning the lottery for Chris. But instead of Tokyo or Kyoto, he found himself in Yamagata – a rural spot surrounded by endless rice fields and the kind of weather that makes you question your life choices. August in the inaka – or countryside – is no joke: think relentless heat and humidity that weighs heavily on you with rotisserie chickens on every corner and cicadas buzzing nonstop.

Driving was another surprise. Chris’s friend James, a veteran JET, picked him up in a Kei car – one of those tiny Japanese vehicles that look like a hatchback’s been compressed and then stretched tall. Inside, there’s barely any room between the driver and passenger, let alone cup holders. Powered by a 660cc engine, these cars zip through narrow streets and come with tax perks, but Chris wondered if a crash would flatten him like a pancake. James reassured him – “They’ve got airbags!” – but the nervousness stuck around, especially when navigating winding country roads with barely a shoulder to spare.

The real culture shock came with his first visit to an onsen, Japan’s famous hot springs. Here, the rules are clear: you get in naked, no exceptions. For someone from the UK, where public nudity is a nightmare, stepping into a steamy bathhouse filled with locals was nerve-wracking. Thankfully, James handed over modesty towels to cover the essentials, though for Chris, it hardly felt like enough. The bathing ritual itself – sitting to wash yourself thoroughly before entering the scorching 115°F pools – was surprisingly soothing, even if Chris felt like he might boil alive. He quickly learned the strict etiquette: keep your towel out of the water and avoid splashing, or risk sharp stares from the seasoned bathers.

After the baths, sprawled on tatami mats and glowing red from the heat, Chris met a kind elderly man who offered him a basket of Yamagata’s famous cherries. They were so perfect and juicy, the idea of sharing never even crossed his mind. Moments like that started to make the overwhelming newness of Japan a little easier to bear.

Lost in kanji, buried in snow, still teaching

The first time Chris stood in front of his Japanese classroom, things didn’t go as planned. He tried to break the ice with jokes, but the students either stared blankly or burst out laughing at the wrong times, making it hard to keep control. At one point, the whiteboard nearly fell off the wall mid-lesson, forcing Chris into an impromptu save that somehow didn’t derail the class. The language barrier was a constant challenge. Although Chris was supposed to use only English in class, students occasionally switched to Japanese, complicating communication and classroom management.

Chris’s biggest challenge came with kanji, the complex Japanese characters that don’t follow a phonetic system and can have multiple meanings depending on context. The sheer number of characters – in the thousands – was daunting, and with language proficiency tests focused on kanji and grammar, he failed his first attempt. Even when he knew what to say, the fear of making mistakes in front of students sometimes caused him to hesitate.

From cheers to chubby

Chris’s experiences reveal a fascinating side of Japanese social life, especially through his encounters with izakayas – casual Japanese pubs – and hostess clubs.

When entering an izakaya, there’s an enthusiastic greeting of Irasshaimase! – which means “Welcome!” This phrase is shouted by staff to signal the start of the lively atmosphere, not just as a formality but as a way to pull customers into the convivial space. People come to izakayas to unwind over drinks and share food. The clinking of glasses is accompanied by a hearty Kanpai! or “Cheers!”

One climb, two fools, and a wise man’s warning

Chris decided to climb Mount Fuji to experience the sunrise from its summit, encouraged by a saying he’d often heard: A wise man climbs Fuji once; only a fool climbs it twice. Under-prepared and sleep-deprived after a poor night in a noisy capsule hotel, he arrived at the start of the trail in the late afternoon. The black volcanic peak loomed above as he and his friend George set out, dressed lightly in shorts and jackets despite falling temperatures.

Early on, they encountered a group of veteran Japanese hikers bundled in proper gear. Noticing Chris and George’s minimal clothing, one elderly climber said, “Eeh! You must be so very cold!” After they reassured him, he cheerfully offered encouragement and wished them well.

A life-changing departure and a new beginning

When Chris returned to school for his second year of teaching in rural Japan, he wasn’t expecting disaster on day one. But that morning, a student jumped from a fourth-floor window. Though the boy survived with broken bones, the staff were shaken. The event exposed the harsh pressure Japanese students face. Bullying, or ijime, often leaves victims isolated and desperate. Chris had seen students hesitate to answer questions, afraid to stand out. Conformity runs deep in Japanese culture, where even being a top student can attract ridicule instead of praise.

Before his move, Chris had started a YouTube channel called Abroad in Japan, aiming to capture life in rural areas few foreigners had explored. As his channel steadily grew alongside his teaching job, one early viral hit featured coworkers practicing English swear words from an absurd book called How to Use Fuck. Naturally, some foreign viewers criticized Chris, acting like self-appointed guardians of Japanese culture – even though they hadn’t lived in Japan themselves. But plenty of others around the world found the innocent, eager delivery of harsh language genuinely entertaining.

From viral fame to real-life fears and resilience

After facing the challenge of finding a stable living situation in Sendai, Chris finally secured his own apartment in October 2016. No longer living out of hotels or temporary accommodations, he felt a sense of relief and a fresh start.

Despite the struggles, his YouTube channel, Abroad in Japan, was still growing. Then, in a lucky twist, an Australian filmmaker asked Chris to host a documentary about Japan’s quirky cat culture. Chris wasn’t exactly a cat person and had no professional experience – but that had never stopped him before. Though he wasn’t sure how he’d come across on camera, the finished documentary, Cat Nation, turned out to be full of funny and strange moments centered around cats.

Want to see all full key ideas from Abroad in Japan?

Key ideas in Abroad in Japan

More knowledge in less time

Read or listen

Get the key ideas from nonfiction bestsellers in minutes, not hours.

Find your next read

Get book lists curated by experts and personalized recommendations.

Shortcasts ^New

We’ve teamed up with podcast creators to bring you key insights from podcasts.

What is Abroad in Japan about?

Abroad in Japan (2023) follows the experiences of an Englishman who, with no teaching experience and limited knowledge of the language, embarks on a life-changing adventure in rural Japan. It explores a decade of cultural clashes, humor, and personal growth, offering a look at the complexities of life in one of the world’s most fascinating cultures.

Who should read Abroad in Japan?

Aspiring teachers and expats seeking growth
Fans of Japanese culture and humor
Travelers interested in rural Japan adventures

About the Author

Chris Broad is a British filmmaker and the founder of the Abroad in Japan YouTube channel. With over a decade of experience living in Japan, Chris has explored all 47 prefectures and tackled issues like the Fukushima nuclear disaster and the Tohoku earthquake in his documentaries. He’s also appeared on platforms such as the BBC, TEDx, NHK, and in the Japan Times.

Categories with Abroad in Japan

Society & Culture

Book summaries like Abroad in Japan

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

Gawain Poet

A Knight’s Test of Honor, Temptation, and Truth

16.2 min

4.4

When You're Ready, This Is How You Heal

Brianna Wiest

Inspiration to Begin Your Journey of True Transformation

The Untold Story of Muscle in Our Lives

18.5 min

4.3

Iran's Grand Strategy

The Leaders Forging a Corporate Resurgence

22.5 min

4.3

A Different Kind of Power

A History of the Islamic Republic

The Million Year History of a Uniquely Human Art

20.2 min

Sapiens

Yuval Noah Harari

A Brief History of Humankind

27.9 min

4.3

The Psychology of Money

Morgan Housel

Timeless Lessons on Wealth, Greed, and Happiness

Japanese Wisdom for a Perfectly Imperfect Life

25 min

4.7

A Midsummer Night's Dream

William Shakespeare

A Comedy of Love, Magic, and Mischief

An Easy and Proven Way to Build Good Habits and Break Bad Ones

How to Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life

22.9 min

4.4

The Fifteen Decisive Battles of the World

Edward Shepherd Creasy

From Marathon to Waterloo

Leadership Lessons from Patrick McGovern

23.2 min

4.7

A Brief History of Time

Stephen Hawking

From the Big Bang to Black Holes

Love, Betrayal, and the Fall of a Hero

The Making of a Nutritional Superstar

23.2 min

4.2

Liz Tran

A New Kind of Intelligence for a World That's Always Changing

17.8 min

4.6

The Book of Ichigo Ichie

Héctor García

The Art of Making the Most of Every Moment, the Japanese Way

24.1 min

4.7

Why Nations Fail

Daron Acemoglu & James A. Robinson

The Origins of Power, Prosperity, and Poverty

From Gunpowder to Graphene, 250 Milestones in the History of Chemistry

How the Psychology of Sports Can Enhance your Performance in Management and Work

A Practical Guide to Freedom, Creativity, and a Life You Love

16.9 min

4.4

The Picture of Dorian Gray

Oscar Wilde

One Man’s Obsession With Beauty and Youth, and His Downfall

23.5 min

4.6

How to Lose Your Mother

A Cultural History of the Twenty-First Century

10 Lessons for a More Productive and Less-Stressed Life

Work Less, Worry Less, Succeed More, Enjoy More

Lessons the Dying Teach Us About Living

The Clinically Proven Plan to Age-Proof Your Brain

21 min

4.6

The Lives of the Artists

Giorgio Vasari

Lives of the Most Eminent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects

25.8 min

4.2

The Way of Excellence

Brad Stulberg

A Guide to True Greatness and Deep Satisfaction in a Chaotic World

16.5 min

4.6

Small Moves, Big Life

Andrea Leigh Rogers

Supercharge Your Energy, Productivity, and Happiness

Godfathers of the Renaissance

How Laughing More Can Make You Present, Creative, Connected, and Happy

20 min

4.6

The Book of Five Rings

Miyamoto Musashi

A Classic Text on the Japanese Way of the Sword

A Proven Guide to Escaping Life’s Hidden Prisons

18.3 min

4.4

The New Emotional Intelligence

Travis Bradberry

Master your emotional skills for lasting success

The Formula for Sustained High Performance in All Phases of Your Life

Dreams and Nightmares in Sam Altman's OpenAI

21.8 min

4.1

When the Body Says No

Gabor Maté

The Cost of Hidden Stress

The Emerging Science of Interpersonal Synchrony

20 min

4.6

The Anxious Generation

Jonathan Haidt

How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness

The Art of Captivating an Audience

Harnessing AI to Make Faster, Smarter Decisions

The Women Upstarts Who Took On Silicon Valley’s Male Culture

20.3 min

4.4

Creativity, Inc.

Ed Catmull with Amy Wallace

Overcoming the Unseen Forces That Stand in the Way of True Inspiration

19.2 min

4.2

People ❤️ Blinkist

Sven O.

It's highly addictive to get core insights on personally relevant topics without repetition or triviality. Added to that the apps ability to suggest kindred interests opens up a foundation of knowledge.

Thi Viet Quynh N.

Great app. Good selection of book summaries you can read or listen to while commuting. Instead of scrolling through your social media news feed, this is a much better way to spend your spare time in my opinion.

Jonathan A.

Life changing. The concept of being able to grasp a book's main point in such a short time truly opens multiple opportunities to grow every area of your life at a faster rate.

Renee D.

Great app. Addicting. Perfect for wait times, morning coffee, evening before bed. Extremely well written, thorough, easy to use.

Start your free trial